7.27.2015

Bibb Lettuce Salad with Okra Croutons & Qamar el-Din

Weeks and weeks of torrential rainfall in May and June turned everything green and lush in the Texas Hill Country. Now, in July, hardly a drop, with temperatures in the high 90's. Time for light meals and plenty of salads. Austin has great resources for "Farm to Market" and "Pick Your Own" gardens. Great to have, since I didn't plant a vegetable garden this year.

Refreshing drinks are also a must this time of the year. This Qamar el-Din is a Mediterranean beverage that I like to make now and then.

Qamar el-DinOne 12 oz sheet of apricot leather3-4 cups water2 tablespoons sugar2 tablespoon orange flower water1-2 tablespoons rose waterCut the apricot leather into small pieces, place in a pitcher or bowl, and soak overnight in the water. Next morning, transfer the contents to a blender and process until smooth. Strain it into a pitcher, add the remaining ingredients, and stir. Adjust the flavorings if needed to your taste, and chill or server over ice.Cheers!RyPhotography By: Ryannan Bryer de HickmanRecipes courtesy of: The Zenchilada

6 comments:

Long time no see..thank you for this buttermilk dressing recipe:)Such pretty pics alawys..wish you would post more often.Hope you are having a happy summer..regardless of the rain..Apricot leather is new to me...

Long time no see..thank you for this buttermilk dressing recipe:)Such pretty pics alawys..wish you would post more often.Hope you are having a happy summer..regardless of the rain..Apricot leather is new to me...

I really should post more often. The blog really takes a back seat - so much going on in my life. One of these days - things will slow down a bit and we can hop off this roller coaster:) Apricot Leather can be a little hard to find, also the orange and rose water. there is a little market - in San Antonio - where I find them and many other fun things to cook with.

It seems very extreme this year! One night the torrential rain stranded me at my house - rushing water on both sides of the house. The stream at the top of it's banks, flooding over the road. Jim was in California, so I was on my own. It was a long night!The next morning - my daughter called to tell me of the tragic flooding on the Blanco River, south of Austin, that claimed the lives of three families and several other people. Now - too hot to do anything in the afternoon! I try to garden early in the morning.